22nd September, 1642. Alsoe for the more peaceable treaty and discussing matters in times of Courts of Assistants It is ordered That decency be held in these Courts proceedings and that every one of the Assistants as he is in his turne and time of Delivery to yeild his voyce shall not use any impertinent speeches or divert the matter in question into some other busines but give his answer freely to the present matter proponed and that during the time of his delivery of his speech or opinion none other of the Assistants shall give crosse or thwarting speeches or calumniate that Assistant And if any Assistant shalbe soe Uncivill That then the present M{r} or Governour shall cause him to be silent and shall put such Assistants Interrupc͠on of speech to question concerneing his ffine for evill behaviour and such Interruptor being found faulty shall pay the ffine of vj{s} viij{d} according to the Ordinance in that behalfe made. 3rd October, 1642. Alsoe M{r} Cotton layed downe his ffines imposed on him at the last Court of Assistants viz{t} xxvj{s} viij{d} The M{r} of the Company moveing by the consent of the last Court M{r} Cotton to withdrawe himselfe according to Orders and Custome, he gave this Court this peremptory answer, I will not goe out of the Court nor the M{r} hath noe power to bidd mee goe out and that the Court had noe power to fine him, then he threatned M{r} Warden Arris as he sat in the Court saying Winter will come, Alsoe he abused M{r} Dye in his delivery of speech to this Court that his speeches were rotten speeches and thwarted him to the generall disturbance of the Court, and to M{r} Martin Browne threatning him I will make you know it better in another place Alsoe he sought to disable the M{rs} hand which was signed to Ticketts for his and other appearances at the Hall for defaults saying they might choose whether to appeare or not Alsoe he told the Court with high language I will not be dismissed. fforasmuch as this Court is informed and it doth fully appeare to this present Court of Assistants That M{r} Lawrence Cotton hath from time to time bin a disturber of the Unity peace and amity of this Society and hath by many reproachfull Words and ill behaviour abused the present M{rs} of the Company and divers of the Assistants and Members of this Company Whereupon this Court doth dismisse the said M{r} Cotton out of and from his place of an Assistant and being an Examiner. Mr. Cotton subsequently made his peace, was reinstated and served the office of Master, 1645!